Internships
Internships
W&L offers abundant resources to help you identify internships across the country and around the world. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to connecting you with opportunities where you can explore your interests and gain valuable professional experience.
The university also provides generous funding that makes these experiences possible. Grants and stipends are available to support travel, living costs and other expenses associated with internships and equivalent experiences, allowing you to focus on a future that is tailored to your passions.
Internship Programs
Many of our internship programs offer funding to offset travel and living expenses.
Off Campus
Washington Term Program
The Washington Term Program takes students to Washington, D.C. for six weeks each spring. They take an academic course, gain experience working in a government office, think tank, or other organization, and participate in a lecture series with some of the most prominent people in Washington.
Off Campus
Johnson Opportunity Grant
The Johnson Opportunity Grant helps rising seniors and juniors pay the expenses connected with an internship, a student conference, independent research or any other summer project that will help them become leaders in their chosen discipline or future career.
Off Campus
Shepherd Poverty Program
The Shepherd Poverty Program funds both international and domestic summer internships. Most of the domestic internships are offered through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, which offers over 120 placements with agencies that work to benefit impoverished members of society across the U.S.
Off Campus
London Internship Program
The London Internship Program runs for seven weeks in the summer, combining classroom study and internships with firms in and around London. Students are matched with businesses and not-for-profits based on their professional interests.
Off Campus
Cape Town Summer Internship Program
The Cape Town Summer Internship Program takes students to South Africa for eight weeks in the summer to participate in internships and site-based learning. Students earn academic credit while developing a deeper understanding of South Africa's culture, history, geology, politics, and business environment.
On and Off Campus
Summer Research
The Summer Research Scholars Program gives students experience with research tools, techniques, and methodology through collaborative research with faculty members during the summer. This introduction to graduate-level research activities is particularly valuable to students who intend to pursue graduate work. Rising seniors who are interested in pursuing independent research or creative projects with faculty mentorship can apply for Student Summer Independent Research (SSIR) Grants.
W&L’s Summer Research Scholars program gives students hands-on experience in collaborative research with faculty mentors.
Washington and Lee students gain new perspectives after internships through the Shepherd Program.
Washington and Lee students explored the world this summer thanks to grant funding opportunities through the Center for International Education.
This summer, Washington and Lee students experienced life in London as part of an immersive program offered through the Williams School.
Washington and Lee’s Class of 2023 includes nine recipients of the Certificate of International Immersion awarded by W&L’s Center for International Education.
Bishop ’26 and Gibbons ’26 Awarded CIE Arabic Summer Scholarship
Washington and Lee's Center for International Education awarded two students funding to study Arabic at the University of Jordan this summer.
W&L’s distinctive summer programming helped Burks-Parra develop her personal and professional interests.
Summer Opportunities: Off the Beaten Path
Washington and Lee students blazed their own trails this summer to pursue their passions.
Summer Opportunities: Internships Abroad
Despite challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, many students were able to travel this summer for valuable professional experience in other countries.
Summer Opportunities: Summer Research Scholars and the Office of Community-Based Learning
Student participants stay in Lexington to develop research techniques and obtain valuable work experience.
Summer Opportunities: The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty Internship
SHECP internships provide work experiences that are impactful for both the students and the communities they serve.
Bonner Kirkland '23 conducted biomedical research this summer in the Children’s National Hospital’s Department of Genetic Medicine.
Career Exploration
Students take part in programs that put their newfound skills and knowledge to work while providing practical experience that prepares them for future careers.
World Bank Treasury
Zahin Reax '22
During my internship at the World Bank’s Treasury, I worked with the central banks of 147 nations, developing analyses of their Reserve Advisory and Management policies by valuing the individual securities. My experience in W&L's Williams Investment Society and in optimizing portfolio returns in my Investments class helped with conducting the analysis.
Capitol Hill Intern
Taylor Garcia '22
I interned for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) during Washington Term Program. I researched current legislation, ran errands to and from the congressman’s Capitol office and personal office, conversed with constituents, and helped office staff. I’ll cherish my experience on the Hill and memories with fellow Whipterns and Washington Term students forever — it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
University of Arizona Ornithology
Chris Tucker '23
During my internship, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, I gained experience with the tools and methods commonly used in the field of ornithology and discovered the challenges and responsibilities that accompany independent research. My classes prepared me for the workload and I enjoyed seeing concepts that fascinated me in classes like zoology and herpetology come to life.
Public Health in the Tropics
Allie Stankewich '23
Last summer participated in the Public Health in the Tropics Internship in Jinja, Uganda. The experience gave me a great deal of independence and the opportunity to study the well-being of people and the environment in different cultures. I have learned the value of interdisciplinary thinking and approaches to global issues through my liberal arts experience, and I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to explore my passions.